Our golden girl of bowls
Champion bowler Edna Harling turned 105 this bowls season. That’s right, 105. After such a long career in the sport, Edna’s achievements are not only extraordinary but stretch over six decades of national, state and club competition.
A former 1968 Australian rep and Victorian representative spanning 22 years, Edna was a State Pennant Champion at the age of 92, not-to-mention a Victorian State Singles, Champion of Champions Singles, and 3 times State Pairs winner. Harling also won Pennant Division 1, twenty-one times for six clubs in between, whilst founding the Kialla Bowls Club with her husband Chris Snr in 1985 before merging with Shepparton Bowling Club to form the Shepparton Park Bowls Club in 2004, host of Bowls Victoria’s annual premiere grassroots event, the Victorian Open from 2011 to today.
The Life Member of Shepparton Park Bowls Club following memberships at Red Cliffs, Mirboo North, Sommerville, Castlemaine, Kerang, Karingal, Sale, Kialla and Mooroopna, Edna is a lover of many sports including tennis and AFL, especially her Collingwood Footy Club. But what do you get a treasured inaugural club member for their 105th birthday this past October 28th? How about personised video messages from the Magpies President Eddie McGuire, Australian National Bowls Coach Steve Glasson and former Commonwealth Games rep Matthew Flapper on her special day. Not a bad birthday gift.
With her son and daughter, Chris Jnr and Jenny at her side, Edna contributes her busy schedule to keeping her active and spry, not something she herself finds difficult with her many friends, her club, seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
We look forward to what adventures Mrs Harling will continue to have at Shepparton Park Bowls Club this season and beyond.
Click here for Enda Harling’s extended biography.
Interview Matt Dowling ABC Radio:
Photo header caption: Edna enjoying her 105th birthday with club mates, and her Daughter and Son, Jenny and Chris Jnr.
Photo credit: Shepparton News.
Audio credit: ABC Radio Shepparton.
